Brands are pulling out all the stops for the Stranger Things premiere, Disney is making history with their first gay main character, The New York Times gets thousands of applications for their dream job, and more links to click on this Friday…
Every Millennial Wants This New York Times Job
A recently-opened NY Times writing position is bringing in applications in the thousands. The position, shared through a viral tweet with over a thousand likes, looks for “one ambitious traveler” who will explore 52 places and write about “which beaches will remain unspoiled, which starchitect-designed museums will live up to their renderings and which culinary treasures are worth hopping a flight to eat”—basically a writer who wants to travel the world for free. By Wednesday morning, 3,100 applicants had already sent in their resumes, and we’ll guess many are from wanderlusting Millennials. Times Travel Editor Monica Drake says the applications will be whittled down to the “unicorn who has it all.”
Brands Celebrate Stranger Things Day
Happy Stranger Things day! Netflix’s ‘80s sci-fi hit has made its highly-anticipated season two return today, with some fans staying up all night to binge the entire thing before the sun came up, and others signing contracts to avoid spoilers. Brands are riding the excitement by celebrating the Millennial and Gen Z favorite with tie-ins that pull out all the stops. Just a few examples: Lyft is creeping out riders with Strange Mode, Google’s Home speaker allows users to speak to characters on the show, and Reebok is unleashing a special edition Stranger Things x Ghostbusters sneaker modeled after a pair worn on the show. Netflix also brought Snapchat into the mix, creating a first-of-its-kind 3D World Lens where fans can step into and explore the infamous living room where strange things will happen.
Disney’s First Gay Main Character Makes History
Today the Disney channel makes history as they introduce their first gay storyline on hit tween series Andi Mack. A “leader among children of all genders for its timeslot,” the series revolves around tweens figuring out their identities, and its season two premiere will feature a coming out story for one of its main characters. The channel has featured LGTBQ characters in the past, but it will a be a first for them to show the journey—a move that could make a huge difference, according to GLAAD’s CEO: “With more and more young people coming out as LGBTQ, Andi Mack is reflecting the lives and lived experiences of so many LGBTQ youth around the country.”
Amazon’s New Service Raises Concerns
Amazon may get a lot of love from young consumers, but their latest venture has a lot of people raising eyebrows. Announced this week, Amazon Key is a $249.99 smart home system that allows Amazon Prime members to let anyone into their homes from their phones. In a promo video with close to a million views, the feature is seen in action as a young girl at work lets an Amazon courier and cleaning service into her home to prepare for a last-minute visit from her parents. General reaction from the internet has mostly been concern, with many pointing out all the ways the service could go very wrong. In one viral tweet with over a thousand likes, @MikeH5856 jokingly sums up reactions: “Amazon Key is a new service that allows strangers to enter your home, hide in your closet, and kill you in your sleep. Free with Prime!”
Links We’re Passing
Kellogg’s apologized this week after a viral tweet pointed out a cereal box illustration that many say is racist, a woman’s “glass skin” routine is trending in the beauty community, and Taco Bell has the internet talking with their new Kit Kat Quesadilla.
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